Northeast Louisiana Arts & Culture Itinerary: Monroe & Winnsboro

Northeast Louisiana is full of wonderful arts and cultural attractions. From symphonies and art galleries to museum exhibits and sculptural landmarks, you’ll find these and more on your road trip to Monroe and Winnsboro — some of the region’s top cultural destinations.

Start your journey in Monroe — best known for its local museums. After breakfast on Monroe Main Street, stroll down to the Masur Museum of Art, the largest visual arts museum in Northeast Louisiana. There you’ll find both contemporary works and those of modern masters such as Picasso, Rodin and Dalí. 

Head to Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, a sanctuary of flowering plants, sculptural embellishments from around the world and a historical home full of antique relics. The museum was started by the family of Joe Biedenharn, who in the 1890s was the first person to bottle Coca-Cola. Today you can see century-old memorabilia in the museum including the world’s first Coca-Cola delivery truck, as well as lush English-style gardens. Visitors will not want to miss the Bible Museum where pieces from daughter Emy-Lou Biedenharn's extensive Bible collection are on display.

Another museum option in Monroe is the Delta African Heritage Museum, which hosts events and seminars on the 1960s civil rights movement in Northeast Louisiana, and features works of art by celebrated African American artists.

Northeast Louisiana’s visual arts scene is thriving. You’ll find galleries and art shows in downtown Monroe hosted by The Palace and many others. Across the river in West Monroe, you’ll find the Ouachita River Art Gallery, which is the oldest and largest artists’ cooperative in Louisiana and home to dozens of works by Monroe area artists.

After gallery-hopping downtown, be sure to seek out some of Monroe’s eclectic restaurants near the Ouachita River waterfront. Restaurant Cotton and Warehouse No. 1 Restaurant are among Monroe’s culinary highlights.

End the evening with a symphony. The Monroe Symphony Orchestra plays classics and more contemporary fare. A Beethoven symphony and scores from blockbuster Hollywood films have been featured in the orchestra’s past seasons.

Have some time to extend your road trip further? Before heading south to your final destination, first head up a little further north to explore the engineering marvel of Poverty Point State Historic Site and Poverty Point National Monument. 

Here, in the small village of Pioneer, you’ll find ancient art on a grand scale — hand-decorated artifacts that were made millennia ago are on display.

In the morning, fill up the tank and drive about an hour south to Winnsboro. There, you’ll find the Old Post Office Museum, which houses work by local artists and includes a stunning Depression-era mural depicting Franklin Parish in the 1930s. Stroll along the quaint Winnsboro Main Street and shop locally for artisan-made items like jewelry, glassware and decor.

Spend the afternoon at Winnsboro Center for the Arts, which offers classes and workshops for adults and children in visual arts, music and theater. If the timing works out, catch a concert at the Bowery Stage Listening Room, featuring on-stage performances from singer-songwriters from across the country.  

End the evening with dinner and a show. Grab a bite to eat at Shay’s Restaurant to start, filling up on home-cooked dishes and a local brew before heading to the theater.

Then head to The Princess Theatre (or Princess Room), an iconic 1900s-era theatre, to grab tickets to a community play, musical, local artist or movie showing — a fantastic way to end a great trip exploring the arts and culture in Northeast Louisiana.